As the Samuel Commission made a strong point of recommending
the co-operative selling of coal, the Report of the Departmental Committee appointed to inquire into this matter is an important document. Sir Frederick Lewis (the head of Messrs. Furness, Withy and Co.) was chairman of the Committee, which included Sir Alfred Mond, Sir Hugo Hirst and (as representatives of the miners) Mr. Hartshorn and Mr. Varley. Three members dissented from the Majority Report, and it is noticeable that these three members were repre- sentatives of the colliery owners. That fact does not, however, commit the owners to opposition to 'co-operative selling, as the owners were also represented in the majority. The objection to the formation of any pools for selling raised by the Minority Report is the obvious one that such pools would work to the disadvantage of the consumer by increasing prices. There is undoubtedly a risk of this, but the whole tendency of the organization of industry is towards amalgamation and co-ordination. * *
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